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Spanish gaming news.com reports that the privatization of State managed lotteries and betting in Spain is now closer. This means that the Spain might shortly become a new target for gaming operators that have seen in few years first the opening up of the Italian gaming market and will be shortly see the end of the State monopolies in France.
This scenario brings me to the conclusion that it is high time to set some EU-wide gaming rules allowing – as already occurred for instance in the e-commerce sector – operators to offer their games throughout all the European Union complying only with the rules of the country where they are based and avoiding the issues already discussed.
In this respect, the recent Bwin case surprises me even more. Why should the principle of the country of origin not apply to the gaming sector? Legislators should understand the relevance of the gaming business and the need to protect the investments of gaming operators which can occur on one hand through the implementation of measures able to stop the offer of games by non-licensed operators and on the on the other hand through the setting up at an EU level of clearer and coherent rules.
The time of the State monopolies is over and the gaming sector shall be treated and regulated by EU authorities as any other sector.
